Posh Women condemned to defeat in league opener against rivals Northampton Town.
Peterborough United Women suffer a 2-1 defeat to Northampton Town Women in their opening fixture of the FA National Women’s League Division One Midlands campaign on Sunday afternoon at Fernie Fields Sports Ground.
The hosts started out the blocks the fasted, creating their fast chance in the opening five minutes, as a low corner was hooked on at the front post and headed towards goal by Annie Villamartin, but Neive Corry got her fingertips on it to keep the scores level.
Jess Driscoll was cautioned inside 6 minutes for a foul. The preceding free-kick saw Laila Channell have an empty net to aim for, but her effort cleared the post. The Posh recorded their first shot on target on 11 minutes as Evie Driscoll-King dribbled into the box, cut it back to Rosie Axten whose shot rebounded off the defender for a corner.
Northampton Town broke the deadlock on 15 minutes as Katie Mclean’s goal kick was well controlled by Alex Dicks and she lobbed Corry from 30 yards out. Posh quickly pushed for a response as Katie Middleton cut inside from the right-hand side, but her effort curled just over the crossbar. A cross from Axten was headed back into the box by Keir Perkins and Sophie Scargill’s shot was saved by Mclean.
However, the Cobblers doubled their lead on 26 minutes as Jade Bell poked the ball under Corry from close-range after Kim Farrow advanced through the Posh defence. Axten fired a volley from distance over the crossbar on 31 minutes as Posh sought to reduce the deficit.
The hosts were very close to adding a third as Dicks got behind the Posh defence, rounded Corry but her effort towards goal was cleared off the line by Mugridge. Lawlor saw a curling effort go just over the bar as the Cobblers held onto the two-goal advantage at the break.
Posh began the second half the brightest, but it was Northampton who had the first effort at goal, with Alex Dicks cutting inside before her shot was superbly blocked by Mugridge and safely fell in the hands of Corry. Minutes later, Perkins nodded the ball back to Axten on the edge of the box, but her low shot was deflected wide.
Posh continued to cause trouble for the Cobblers' defence as Lawlor fired a long-range effort just wide of the post on 55 minutes. On 66 minutes, Katie Middleton reduced the deficit as she picked up the ball just inside the box and her left-footed effort found the bottom far corner.
The Cobblers had a rare second-half opportunity with 15 minutes to go as Villamartin fired a low-driven shot at goal, but it was comfortable for Corry. On 86 minutes, Alex O’Neill sent a cross towards the back-post and was met by Middleton, but her poked effort went straight into the hands of McLean.
Posh XI: Corry, Connor (sub 46 min, Brown), Driscoll-King, Mugridge, Axten (sub 65 mins, Kirk), Scargill (sub 71mins, Evans), Perkins, Lawlor (sub 65 mins, O’Neill), Copson, Driscoll, Middleton.
Unused Sub: York.
Written by Lauren Shiels.
Photo Credit: Ruby Red Photography (@rubyredphoto)